Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution

SLaCE

The Centre brings together a unique group of researchers in the Schools of Biology and Psychology & Neuroscience who share a distinctive set of common interests in the study of social learning, culture and cognitive evolution. Core activities include collaborative research projects, shared postgraduate training, the organisation of workshops and conferences, and contribution to the Behaviour Discussion Group.

Our members conduct research on a broad range of species, including fish, birds, cetaceans, non-human primates and human beings. Fieldwork is conducted at a range of international sites and includes the studies of chimpanzee behaviour at the Budongo Forest in Uganda, hummingbirds in Canada, and whales and dolphins in oceans across the globe. Observational studies are carried out on captive populations, for example at the Living Links to Human Evolution research centre and Budongo Trail at Edinburgh Zoo. Our researchers also conduct child development studies in the Baby and Child Lab and at public science venues.

All research is conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines laid down by the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour and the British Psychological Society. Our research has been supported by numerous grants from a broad range of organisations, including UK research councils (e.g., BBSRC, NERC, ESRC), European funders (e.g., ERC, Fyssen Foundation, Swiss National Science Foundation), charities (e.g., John Templeton Foundation, Leverhulme Trust, Wellcome Trust), academic organisations (e.g., Royal Society, Wenner-Gren Foundation) and other funders (e.g., Chief Scientist’s Office, PPP Childcare Trust, Australian Research Council).